Method and system for accepting non-harming mail at a home or office

ABSTRACT

A method and system that enable the recipient of letters, flats and/or packages (hereinafter “mail”) that are addressed to the recipient to determine the identity of the person or group that placed an indicia and other information on mail, i.e., the person or group who applied for a license to use the meter before the recipient opened the mail. The invention accomplishes the foregoing by: scanning mail in recipient&#39;s home or office that is addressed to the recipient which may contain material that may or may not be life-harming; capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient and the postal indicia; and processing the image on the face of the mail to identify the mailer and the mail to assess the possibility of the presence of life-harming material in the mail.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patentapplications: Attorney Docket No. F431 filed herewith entitled “SystemFor Accepting Non-Harming Mail At A Receptacle” in the name of Ronald P.Sansone; Attorney Docket No. F-433 filed herewith entitled “System ForAccepting Non-Life-Harming Mail From People Who Are Authorized ToDeposit Mail In A Receptacle” in the name of Ronald P. Sansone; andAttorney Docket No. F-434 filed herewith entitled “Method And System ForAccepting Non-Toxic Mail That Has An Indication Of The Mailer On TheMail” in the name of Ronald P. Sansone; and Attorney Docket No. F-435filed herewith entitled “System For A Recipient To Determine Whether OrNot They Received Non-Life-Harming Materials” in the name of Ronald P.Sansone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of mail deliverysystems and, more particularly, to methods that detect the presence oflife harming materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] People have used the United States Postal Service (USPS) andother courier services, e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United ParcelService,® DHL®, etc., hereinafter called “carriers”, to delivermaterials to recipients to whom the sender does not want to deliverpersonally. Unfortunately, sometimes the delivered materials may beillegal and/or hazardous to the health of the recipient and to the partywho is delivering the goods, e.g. life-harming. Examples of life-harmingmaterials are explosives; gun powder; blasting material; bombs;detonators; smokeless powder; radioactive materials; ammunition; atomicweapons; chemical compounds or any mechanical mixture containing anyoxidizing and combustible units, or other ingredients in suchproportions, quantities, or packing that ignite by fire, friction,concussion, percussion or detonation of any part thereof which may andis intended to cause an explosion; poisons; carcinogenic materials;caustic chemicals; hallucinogenic substances; illegal materials; drugsthat are illegal to sell and/or dispense; and substances which, becauseof their toxicity, magnification or concentration within biologicalchains, present a threat to biological life when exposed to theenvironment, etc.

[0004] Soon after the Sep. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the UnitedStates, someone and/or a group of people has been adding harmfulbiological agents to the mail. The addition of harmful biological agentsto the mail submitted to the USPS has caused the death of some peopleand necessitated the closure of some post offices and other governmentoffice buildings. Thus, there is an urgent need to exclude life-harmingmaterials that are included in the mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art byproviding a system that enables the recipient of letters, flats and/orpackages (hereinafter “mail”) that are addressed to the recipient todetermine the identity of the person or group that placed an indicia andother information on mail, i.e., the person or group who applied for alicense to use the meter, before the recipient opened the mail. Therecipient would also be able to determine the identity of mailers whoplaced mail in receptacles designed to exclude life-harming mail. Theidentity of the mailing would also be uniquely identified. Since theidentity of the mailer and specific item being mailed to the recipientwould be known, the recipient would have some assurance that the maildoes not contain life harming materials before opening the mail. Hence,the recipient would not have to open mail that may cause human harmand/or extensive property damage.

[0006] This invention accomplishes the foregoing by scanning deliveredmail in recipient's home or office that is addressed to the recipientwhich may contain material that may or may not be life-harming;capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name andphysical address of the recipient and the postal indicia; and processingthe image on the face of the mail to identify the mailer and the mail toaccess the possibility of the presence of life harming material in themail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a drawing of receptacle 500 of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

[0009]FIG. 3A is a drawing of scanner and data processors 15 and 45 ofFIG. 1 in greater detail.

[0010]FIG. 3B is a drawing of mail box controller 513 of FIG. 2 ingreater detail.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a drawing of a mail piece containing a postal indiciathat was affixed by an electronic meter.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a drawing of a mail piece containing anInformation-Based Indicia.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a drawing of a flow chart of the scan/upload process.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a PSD-based PC mailing system.

[0015]FIG. 8 is a drawing of a reply message from the data center torecipient's meter.

[0016]FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the validation of mail by meters 41 or341.

[0017]FIG. 10A is a drawing of a special postage stamp.

[0018]FIG. 10B is a drawing of a label that identifies an individual ora business entity.

[0019]FIG. 11A is a drawing of an identification card issued to anindividual.

[0020]FIG. 11B is a drawing of an identification card issued to anentity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly toFIG. 1, the reference character 11 represents an electronic postagemeter. Postage meter 11 includes a funds vault 12 that represents thevalue of the postage that may be used by meter 11; an accounting andencryption module 13 that contains information that is used to printindicia 18; a printer 14; a scanner and processor 15; a controller 16; aclock and calendar 6; a user I/O 17; and an I/O 56. Accounting andencryption module 13 obtains a security code that may be obtained fromaddress field 9 of mail piece 10 and information contained in postagemeter 11. The manner in which the aforementioned security code isobtained is disclosed in the Sansone, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,555entitled “Unsecured Postage Applying System” herein incorporated byreference. User I/O 17 comprises a keyboard in which an operator mayenter information into meter 11 and a display in which an operator ofmeter 11 may read information about meter 11. Funds vault 12, accountingand encryption module 13, indicia printer 14, scanner and processor 15,clock and calendar 6, and user I/O 17 are coupled to controller 16.Clock and calendar 6 provides an internal source of time and date forcontroller 16. Thus, clock and calendar 6 will supply the instant dateand time that meter 11 affixed the indicia to mail piece 10. Scanner andprocessor 15 will store the above information in processed mail databuffer 54 (described in the description of FIG. 3A)

[0022] Actions performed by meter 11 are communicated to controller 16.Controller 16 controls the actions of postage meter 11. Clock andcalendar 6 also permits controller 16 to store the date and time thatpostal indicia 18 was affixed to mail piece 10. Controller 16 uses theweighing of the mail piece to determine the correct postage, and causesmeter 11 to affix the correct postage to the mail piece. Controller 16is described in Wu's U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,640 entitled “AutomaticMailProcessing Device With Full Functions” herein incorporated byreference.

[0023] The user of meter 11 places the mail piece to be mailed on ascale (not shown) and enters the classification of the material to bemailed, i.e., first class mail, standard mail, parcel post, etc., intothe keyboard of user I/O 17, and relevant information regarding theobject to be mailed is displayed on the display of user I/O 17.

[0024] Printer 14 will print postal indicia 18 on mail piece 10. Scannerand processor 15 scans address field 9 and sender return address field 8of mail piece 10. Then, scanner and processor 15 segments theinformation contained in fields 8 and 9 and stores the segmentedinformation, i.e., tracking code 7. Tracking code 7 may be similar to orthe same as the security code determined by accounting encryption module13. For instance, a unique tracking number may be composed by assemblinga number that includes the meter number, the date of mailing of the mailpiece, the time of day, the postage placed on the mail piece, the zipcode of the licensee of the meter, the name, address, city, state andzip code of the sender of the mail piece, and the name address, city,state and zip code of the recipient of the mail piece. It will beobvious to one skilled in the art that any combination of theaforementioned variables may be used if the meter number is included. Inthe United States, meter manufactures identify their meters by one ortwo alpha characters before the meter number. It will also be obvious toone skilled in the art that many other variables may be used to produceunique tracking numbers.

[0025] I/O 56 is coupled to modem 20 and scanner and processor 15. Modem23 is coupled to modem 20 via communications path 24, and modem 21 iscoupled to modem 23 via communications path 25. Modem 23 is coupled topostage meter manufacturer data center computer 26. Modem 23 is coupledto postal data center 516 via communications path 521. Computer 26manages the day-to-day operation of its postage meters metering i.e.,installing new postage meters, withdrawing postage meters, and refillingpostage meters with customer funds.

[0026] Computer 26 is coupled to postal funds data base 27. Data base 27stores postal funds that have been used and credited to meters 11 and41. Computer 26 is also coupled to outbound mail data buffer 28 thatreceives information about mail piece 10 from postage meter 11, i.e.,tracking number 7 and address field 9; inbound mail data buffer 29 thatreceives information about mail piece 10 from postage meter 41, i.e.,tracking number 7 and address field 9; mail box entry data buffer 518that buffers the scanned data from receptacle 500 (FIG. 2), and uploaddata computer 30 that receives and processes information from buffers 28and 29. Processed mail data base 31 is coupled to upload data computer30. Processed mail data base 31 stores the result of the output ofcomputer 30 and makes it available to computer 26 for transmission tometer 11.

[0027] Postage meter 41 includes a funds vault 42 that represents thevalue of the postage that may be used by meter 41; an accounting andencryption module 43 that contains information that is used to printpostal indicium; a printer 44; a scanner and processor 45; a controller46; a clock and calendar 58 that permits controller 46 to store the dateand time that scanner 45 scanned mail piece 10; a user I/O 47; and anI/O 57. Funds vault 42, accounting and encryption module 43, indiciaprinter 44, scanner and processor 45, and user I/O 47 are coupled tocontroller 46. I/O 57 is the interface between scanner and processor 45and modem 21, and is used to upload data from meter 41 to computer 26via modems 21 and 23. Clock and calendar 58 will supply the instant dateand time that scanner 45 reads mail piece 10. The above information willbe stored in processed mail data buffer 54 of FIG. 3A.

[0028] Thus, meter 41 is the same as meter 11. In this example, meter 41is being used as the receiving meter, and meter 11 is being used as asending meter. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that meter11 may be a receiving meter, and meter 41 a sending meter and thatadditional meters may be connected to computer 26.

[0029] After indicia 18 is affixed to mail piece 10 by postage meter 11,mail piece 10 is placed in slot 507 (FIG. 2) before it enters controlchamber 510 and inner chamber 514 of receptacle 500. Mail deposited ininner chamber 514 of receptacle 500 will subsequently enter USPS maildelivery process 32 (FIG. 1). The description and operation ofreceptacle 500 is described in the description of FIG. 2. Mail may enterpostal delivery process 32 by other entry means, i.e., a normal mailbox, at the postal counter, etc. The post delivers mail piece 10 to theowner of electronic postage meter 41. Mail piece 10 will be scanned byscanner and processor 45 of meter 41. Scanner and processor 45 segmentsthe data and stores it for uploading to computer 26 via modems 21 and23. Information from meter 11 regarding mail piece 10 was previouslysent to computer 26 via modems 20 and 23. The information transmitted bymeter 11 is tracking number 7, address field 8 and address field 9. Theinformation transmitted by meter 41 to data center computer 26 istracking number 7, return address field 8 and address field 9, the dateand time mail piece 10 was scanned by meter 41, and the serial number ofmeter 41. Computer 26 will confirm whether or not the above data is inoutbound mail data buffer 28 (FIG. 1). If the data is not in outboundmail data buffer 28, computer 26 will request postal data center 516 tocheck special stamps data base 540 and identification card data base 541(FIG. 9) to determine the identity of the person or group who was issuedthe special stamps or identification card. Postal data center 516 willinform meter 41 of the results of its determination. The results of thedetermination are described in the description of FIG. 9.

[0030]FIG. 2 is a drawing of mail receptacle 500 of FIG. 1. Receptacle500 has a front panel 501 containing a slot 508 for receptacleidentification cards 600 and 610 (FIGS. 11A and 11B, respectively) and amail slot 507 for depositing mail; a top panel 505; side panels 502; aback panel 503 having a door 504 for access to life-harming materials;and, a door 506 for access to non-life-harming materials. Receptacle 500has a control chamber 510 that contains a scanner 511 and a transport512. Card 600 or card 610 is placed in slot 508 and transported bytransport 512 to scanner 511 so that scanner 511 may read theinformation on the card. Then, transport 512 ejects card 600 or card 610through slot 508. When mail and/or mail piece 10 (FIG. 1) is depositedface up in slot 507, mail piece 10 will enter control chamber 510. Theface of mail piece 10 will be scanned and read by scanner 511 whilebeing moved by transport 512. Mail box 513 will interpret the foregoinginformation regarding mail piece 10. Controller 513 will communicatewith postal data center 516 (FIG. 1) via data buffer and modem 520.Postal data center 516 communicates with computer 26 (FIG. 1) whichaccesses buffer 29 to determine if a record of the mail currently incontrol chamber 510 appears in buffer 29.

[0031] If the information on the face of the mail piece in controlchamber 510 does not match the information in buffer 29, the mail incontrol chamber 510 is of questionable origin and may be suspected ofhaving life-harming material. The mail will remain in control chamber510, and a signal will be sent by controller 513 to postal data center516 (FIG. 1) to inform the proper authorities to unlock door 504, removethe possibly tainted mail and activate door 519 to close slot 507 toprevent any mail from entering chamber 510. Controller 513 will alsoactivate LED 517, which will indicate “Out Of Service” or “May containlife-harming materials”, etc.

[0032] If the information on the face of the mail piece in controlchamber 510 matches the information in buffer 29, the mail in controlchamber 510 is not of questionable origin and is not suspected of havinglife harming material. The information will be stored in buffer 518(FIG. 1), and computer 26 will authorize controller 513 to open door 515and enable transport 512 to move the mail in control chamber 510 toinner chamber 514. Mail piece 10 and the other mail in inner chamber 514may be removed by opening locked door 506.

[0033]FIG. 3A is a drawing of scanner and data processors 15 and 45 ofFIG. 1 in greater detail. The operator of meter 41 may use user I/O 47to select the meter mode to place a postal indicia on mail piece 10 orthe scan mode to read the postal indicia on mail piece 10. When theoperator of meter 41 selects the scan mode, controller 46 turns controlof meter 41 over to scan process controller 51. Mail piece 10 will bemoved under scanner 55 and transported through meter 41 (not shown).Scanner 55 will store the image of mail piece 10 in image processingbuffer memory 52, convert the image by using the process mentioned inOCR processes 53 and store the processed image in processed mail databuffer 54. Then, the optical character recognition process 53 willbegin. Process 53 will segment the image into its various components,i.e., amount of postage, meter number, date mail piece 10 mailed, placemail piece 10 mailed, security code 89 (FIG. 4), tracking number 7,recipient address 9, and return address 8, etc. At this point, arecognition process will take the segmented components of theaforementioned image and convert them into an ASCII text field. In theidentification process, it will be determined whether or not the ASCIIinformation is in the correct format. Now the extracted information willbe placed in processed mail data buffer 54. Clock and calendar 58 willbe used to determine when mail piece 10 was scanned, and /data I/O 57will be used to convey the information stored in buffer 54 to modem 21at predetermined times.

[0034] The operator of meter 11 may use user I/O 17 to select the metermode to place a postal indicia on mail piece 10, or the scan mode toread the postal indicia on mail piece 10. When the operator of meter 11selects the meter mode, controller 16 turns control of meter 11 over tometer process controller 51. While mail piece 10 is being printed, it isscanned by scanner 55.

[0035] Scanner 55 will store the image of mail piece 10 in buffer 52,while mail piece 10 is being printed by meter 11. Scanner 55 will alsoconvert the image by using the process shown in block 53 and store theprocessed image in mail data buffer 54. Then, the optical characterrecognition process 53 will begin. Process 53 will segment the imageinto its various components, i.e., amount of postage, meter number, datemail piece 10 mailed, place mail piece 10 mailed, security code 89,tracking number 7, recipient address 9, and return address 8, etc. Atthis point, the recognition process will take the segmented componentsof the aforementioned image and convert them into an ASCII text field.In the identification process, it will be determined whether or not theASCII information is in the correct format. Now the extractedinformation will be placed in processed mail data buffer 54. Clock andcalendar 6 will be used to note when an indicia was affixed to mailpiece 10 and when mail piece 10 was scanned. Data I/O 56 will be used toconvey the information stored in buffer 54 to modem 20 at apredetermined time.

[0036]FIG. 3B is a drawing of mail box controller 513 of FIG. 2 ingreater detail. Controller 513 may be activated when a piece of mail isproperly inserted into slot 507. Controller 513 turns control over toprocess 536. Process 536 begins at scan process controller 535. Mailpiece 10 will be moved under scanner 511 and transported control chamber510 (FIG. 2). Scanner 511 will store the image of mail piece 10 in imageprocessing buffer memory 530, convert the image by using the processmentioned in OCR processes 531 and store the processed image in imageprocessing buffer memory 530. Then, the optical character recognitionprocess 531 will begin. Process 531 will segment the image into itsvarious components, i.e., amount of postage, meter number, date mailpiece 10 mailed, place mail piece 10 mailed, security code 89 (FIG. 4),tracking number 7, recipient address 9, and return address 8, etc. Atthis point, a recognition process will take the segmented components ofthe aforementioned image and convert them into an ASCII text field. Inthe identification process, it will be determined whether or not theASCII information is in the correct format. Now the extractedinformation will be placed in current mail piece data buffer 532. Clockand calendar 533 will be used to determine when mail piece 10 wasscanned, and data buffer and modem 520 will be used to convey theinformation stored in current mail piece data buffer 532 to postal datacenter 516 (FIG. 1) at predetermined times.

[0037] Postal data center 516 sends the above mail data to computer 26,and, in turn, computer 30 validates the above data in buffer 28. Uploaddata computer 30 informs computer 26, which in turn informs postal datacenter 516 whether or not the above data was stored in buffer 28. If thedata was stored in buffer 28, the mail is not suspect and is allowed toenter inner chamber 514 (FIG. 2) of receptacle 510. If the data was notstored in buffer 28, the mail is suspect and is not allowed to enterinner chamber 514 of receptacle 510. Postal data center 516 communicatesthe above to controller 513 via modem 520. If the mail is suspect, mailbox controller 513 will activate display 517 and activate door 519 (FIG.2) to close slot 507.

[0038]FIG. 4 is a drawing of a mail piece containing a postal indiciathat was affixed by an electronic meter. Mail piece 10 has a recipientaddress field 9 and a sender address field 8. A postal indicia 36 isaffixed to mail piece 10. Indicia 36 contains a dollar amount 85; thedate 86 that postal indicia 36 was affixed to mail piece 10; the place87 that mail piece 10 was mailed; the postal meter serial number 88; aneagle 83; a security code 89; and, a tracking number 7. Security code 89and tracking number 7 are unique numbers that are derived from addressfield 9 and information contained in the postage meter that affixedindicia 36. The manner in which security code 89 and tracking number 7are obtained is disclosed in the Sansone, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,555entitled “Unsecured Postage Applying System” herein incorporated byreference.

[0039]FIG. 5 is a drawing of a mail piece 10 containing an indicia 37.Mail piece 10 has a recipient address field 9 and a sender address field8. Mail piece 10 contains United States Postal Service (USPS)Information-Based Indicia (IBI) 37. The USPS Engineering Center recentlypublished a notice of proposed specification that describes anInformation-Based Indicia. The postal indicia 37 contains a dollaramount 93; the date 94 that the postal indicia was affixed to mail piece10; the place 95 that mail piece 10 was mailed; the postal securitydevice serial number 96; a FIM code 97; a 2D encrypted bar code 98; and,a tracking number 7. Serial number 96 may be derived from bar code 98 orbe equal to bar code 98. Bar code 98 is a unique number that is derivedfrom address field 9 and information contained in the postal securitydevice that affixed IBI 37. The manner in which information contained inbar code 98 is obtained is disclosed in the Sansone, et al. U.S. Pat.No. 4,831,555 entitled “UNSECURED POSTAGE APPLYING SYSTEM,” hereinincorporated by reference. Mail piece 10 also contains an indication 38of the class of mail piece 10.

[0040]FIG. 6 is a drawing of a flow chart of the scan/upload process forthe meter and the PSD. The user selects the scan process and inserts amail piece for the meter. For the receiving PSD 342 (FIG. 7) the userselects the scan process and inserts a mail piece into scanner andprocessor 345. Block 899 processes the mail piece and sends a startprocess signal to the scan controller. This process is used by metercontroller 46 of FIG. 1. Then the program goes to block 901. Block 901determines whether or not the scan mode has been selected. If the scanmode has not been selected, then the program goes back to block 901. Ifthe scan mode has been selected, the program goes to block 903 and setsN=0. Then the program goes to decision block 902. Block 902 determineswhether or not the edge of mail piece 10 has been sensed. If the edge ofmail piece 10 has not been sensed, then the program goes back to block902. If the edge of mail piece 10 has been sensed, then the program goesto block 904 to set N=N+1, where N is a piece count of the image of amail piece.

[0041] Now the program goes to block 905 to scan mail piece 10. At thispoint, the program goes to decision block 906. Block 906 determineswhether or not the trailing edge of mail piece 10 has been sensed. Ifthe trailing edge of mail piece 10 has not been sensed then the programgoes back to block 906. If the trailing edge of mail piece 10 has beensensed, then the program goes to block 907. Block 907 transfers the Nthimage from the scan buffer block 52 to the transient image buffer block908. Then, in block 909, the program adds the N, piece count of theimage of the mail piece meter number, date and time to the header forthe record. Then the program goes to block 915 to segment the image.Then the program goes to block 916 to recognize segmented images. Inblock 917, the program identifies the segmented characters. Now theprogram goes to block 918 to extract ASCII data fields. At this point,the program goes to block 919 to transfer the data to processed imagebuffer block 920 and clear transient buffer. Now the program goes todecision block 902. Then the program goes to decision block 925. Block925 determines whether or not the data is correct. If the data isincorrect, the program goes to block 940 to request a rescan. If thedata is correct, the program goes to block 926 to transfer the data tothe final buffer. Then the program goes to final data records bufferblock 927. At this point, the program goes to decision block 930.Decision block 930 determines whether or not data center computer 26 isrequesting data. If block 930 determines that computer 26 is notrequesting data, the program goes to decision block 931. Decision block931 determines whether or not it is time to send data. If block 931determines that it is time to send data, the program goes to block 935.If block 931 determines that it is not time to send data, the programgoes back to the input of block 930. If block 930 determines thatcomputer 26 is requesting data, then the program proceeds to block 935.Block 935 reads all final data records in block 927 and transfers themto I/O 56, 57 (FIG. 1) or 347 (FIG. 7).

[0042] Now the program goes to decision block 937. Decision block 937determines whether or not data centers 26 (FIG. 1) or 326 (FIG. 7) havereceived a validation message. If block 937 determines that a validationmessage has not been received, the program goes back to the input ofblock 937. If block 937 determines that a validation message has beenreceived, the program goes to block 938 to display the message on I/O56, 57 or 347. Then the program goes to block 936 to clear final databuffer records block 927. At this point, the program goes back todecision block 902.

[0043]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a PSD-based PC mailing system.Personal computer (PC) 311 includes a PC controller 316; a user I/O 317;and a PC I/O 356. PSD 312 obtains a security code that may be obtainedfrom address field 309 of mail piece 310 and information contained in PC311. User I/O 317 comprises a keyboard in which an operator may enterinformation into PC 311, and a display in which an operator of PC 311may read information about PC 311. A clock and calendar inside PSD 312will supply the instant date and time that printer 314 affixed theindicia to mail piece 310. Scanner and processor 315 will store theabove information in PC 311.

[0044] Actions performed by PC 311 are communicated to controller 316.Controller 316 controls the actions of PC 311. Controller 316 uses theweighing of the mail piece to determine the correct postage, and enablesprinter 314 to affix the correct postage to mail piece 310.

[0045] The user of PC 311 places the mail piece to be mailed on a scale(not shown) and enters the classification of the material to be mailed,i.e., first class mail, second class mail, parcel post, etc., into thekeyboard of I/O 317, and relevant information regarding the object to bemailed is displayed on the display of I/O 317.

[0046] Printer 314 will print postal indicia 318 on mail piece 310.Scanner and processor 315 scans address field 309 and sender returnaddress field 308 of mail piece 310. Then scanner and processor 315segments the information contained in fields 308 and 309 and stores thesegmented information i.e., tracking code 307. Tracking code 307 may besimilar to or the same as the security code determined by PSD 312. Itwill be obvious to one skilled in the art that there are many differentmethods to produce unique tracking numbers.

[0047] PC I/O 356 is coupled to modem 320 and scanner and processor 315.Modem 323 is coupled to modem 320 via communications path 324, and modem321 is coupled to modem 323 via communications path 325. Modem 323 iscoupled to PSD meter manufacturer data center computer 326. Modem 323 iscoupled to postal data center 516 via communications path 527. Computer326 manages the day to day operation of its PSD's metering, i.e.,installing new PSD's, withdrawing PSD's, and refilling PSD's withcustomer funds.

[0048] Computer 326 is coupled to postal funds data base 327. Data base327 stores postal funds that have been used and credited to PC 311 and341. Computer 326 is also coupled to outbound mail data buffer 328 thatreceives information about mail piece 310 from PC 311 i.e., trackingnumber 307 and address field 309; inbound mail data buffer 329 thatreceives information about mail piece 310 from PC 341, i.e., trackingnumber 307 and address field 309; mail box entry data buffer 525 thatbuffers scanned data from receptacle 500; and upload data computer 330that receives and processes information from buffers 328 and 329.Processed mail data base 331 is coupled to upload data computer 330.Processed mail data base 331 stores the result of the output of computer330 and makes it available to computer 326 for transmission to PSD 311.

[0049] PSD 341 includes a PC controller 346; user I/O 347; and PC I/O357. PSD 342 is coupled to PC I/O 357. PC I/O 357 is coupled to modem321, and modem 321 is coupled to modem 323 via path 325. Scanner andprocessor 345 is coupled to PC I/O 357, and printer 344 is coupled to PCI/O 357. PSD 342 will supply the instant date and time that scanner 345reads mail piece 310. The above information will be stored in PC 311.

[0050] Thus, PC 341 is the same as PC 311. In this example, PC 341 isbeing used as the receiving PC, and PC 311 is being used as a sendingPC. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that PC 311 may be areceiving PC and PC 341 a sending PC, and that additional PC's may beconnected to computer 326.

[0051] After indicia 318 is affixed to mail piece 310 by PC 311, mailpiece 310 is placed in slot 507 (FIG. 2) before it enters inner chamber514 of receptacle 500. Mail deposited in inner chamber 514 of receptacle500 will subsequently enter postal mail delivery process 332. Thedescription and operation of receptacle 500 is described in thedescription of FIG. 2. Mail may enter postal mail delivery process 332by other entry means, i.e., a normal mail box, at the postal counter,etc. Then mail piece 310 enters postal mail delivery process 332. Thepost delivers mail piece 310 to the owner of PC 341. Mail piece 310 willbe scanned by scanner and processor 345 of PC 341. Scanner and processor345 segments the data and stores it for uploading to computer 326 viamodems 321 and 323. Information from PC 311 regarding mail piece 310 waspreviously sent to computer 326 via modems 320 and 323. The informationtransmitted by PC 311 is tracking number 307 and address field 309. Theinformation transmitted by PC 341 to data center computer 326 istracking number 307 and address field 309, the date and time mail piece310 was scanned by PC 341 and the serial number of PC 341. Data centercomputer 26 will confirm whether or not the above data is in outboundmail data buffer 328. If the data is not in data buffer 328, computer326 will request postal data center 516 to check special stamps database 540 and identification card data base 541 (FIG. 9 to determine theidentity of the person or group who was issued the special stamps oridentification card. Postal data center 516 will inform meter 341 of theresults of its determination. The results of the determination aredescribed in the description of FIG. 9.

[0052]FIG. 8 is a drawing of a reply message from the data center 26 or326 (FIGS. 1 and 8) to recipient's electronic meter 41, 11 or personalcomputer meter 341, 311. Information 591 from data centers 26 or 326will be displayed on display 590. Display 590 is user I/O 47 or user I/O17 (FIG. 1) or user I/O 347 or user I/O 31 (FIG. 7). Information 591includes the date and time the mail was franked 593; the name andlocation of the licensee of the meter 594; the date 595 the mail wasdeposited in receptacle 500 (FIG. 2); the time 596 that the mail wasdeposited in receptacle 500; and, the location 597 of receptacle 500.

[0053]FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the validation of mail by meters 41 or341. After meter 41 or meter 341, respectively, scans mail piece 10 or310 that was deposited in receptacle 500 and delivered by process 32 or332, a message is sent to data center computer 26 or 326 via modem 23 or323 requesting data center computer 26 or 326 to check the validity ofthe mail pieces. At this time validation request and reply router 550buffers the user's request in user validation request buffer 529. Router550 also interprets the request to decide if the mail is electronicmetered mail, PSD metered mail, stamped or labeled mail that enteredreceptacle 500 (FIG. 2) or identification card mail that enteredreceptacle 500.

[0054] If router 550 determines that the mail is metered mail or PSDmetered mail, computer 26 or computer 326 receives a buffered messagefrom user validation request buffer 529. Computer 26 or 326 checks mailentry data buffer and database 518 or 525 to determine whether or notmail was processed by receptacle 500. Computer 26 or 326 also checksprocessed mail data base 31 or 331 to determine whether or not mail wasprocessed by meter 41 or meter 341. Computer 26 or 326 displays theresults of the above checks to meters 41 or 341 via router 550 andmodems 23 or 323.

[0055] If router 550 determines that the mail is stamped or labeled mailor identification card mail, router 550 will send the request to postaldata center 516 via modems 23 or 323 and transmission path 521 or 527.Postal data center computer 528 will check issued coded stamp/label database archive 540 and home guard user identification data base andarchive 541 to determine if the mail being validated was issued a stamp100 or 110 (FIGS. 10A, 10B) that is archived in data base 540, or if themail being validated was assigned to an identification card 600 or 610(FIGS. 11A, 11B) archived in data base 541. Computer 528 will alsoreceive information regarding mail that was deposited in receptacle 500.

[0056] Data base 540 stores the stamp special code 103 (FIG. 10A), labelspecial code 110 (FIG. 10B) and the name of the person and/or entity whoreceived stamp 100 or label 110. Data base 541 stores the special codes601 and 611 (FIGS. 11A and 11B) and the name of the person and/or entityto whom cards 600 and 610 were issued. Postal data center computer 528will inform meter 41 or 341 of the results of the above search. Theresults of a particular search are described in the description of FIG.8.

[0057]FIG. 10A is a drawing of a special postage stamp. Postage stamp100 has a stamp graphics area 101 showing the graphic design and thestamp denomination 102. Stamp 100 also has a special code 103 comprisedof a string of alphanumeric characters, which is readable byconventional optical character recognition readers. Special code 103 isunique in that each stamp will have a different code. Thus, when theUSPS sells a stamp, special code 103 and the person or entity thatpurchased the stamp will be recorded and stored in archive 540 (FIG. 9).

[0058]FIG. 10B is a drawing of a label that identifies an individual ora business entity. Label 110 has an adhesive area (not shown) to allowthe label to be affixed to mail. Label 110 also has a special code 111comprised of a string of alphanumeric characters, which is readable byconventional optical character recognition readers. Special code 111 isunique in that each person or entity will have a different special code111. Thus, when the USPS issues a label 110, the person or entity towhom or which that label 110 was issued, and their special code 111,will be recorded and stored in archive 540 (FIG. 9). A normal postagestamp may be affixed to area 112.

[0059]FIG. 11A is a drawing of an identification card issued to anindividual. Identification card 600 has a card number 601 and a name 605to whom card 600 was issued. Number 601 is a special code comprised of astring of numeric characters, which is readable by conventional opticalcharacter recognition readers. Special code 601 is unique in that eachindividual will have a different code. Thus, when the USPS issuesidentification card 600, special code 601 and the person that card 600was issued to will be recorded and stored in archive 541 (FIG. 9). Also,each time card 600 is placed in slot 507 of receptacle 500 (FIG. 2),that fact will be recorded in archive 541. Number 601 and/or name 605may be represented by a two-dimensional bar code 604. Card 600 also hasa date of issue 602 and expiration date 603. Information represented oncard 600 may be read by scanner 511 (FIG. 2).

[0060]FIG. 11B is a drawing of an identification card issued to anentity. Identification card 610 has a card number 611, an entity 616 towhom card 600 was issued, and the name of a person 615 in entity 616 whois allowed to use card 610. Number 611 is a special code comprised of astring of numeric characters, which is readable by conventional opticalcharacter recognition readers. Special code 611 is unique in that eachindividual will have a different code. Thus, when the USPS issuesidentification card 610, special code 611, entity 612 and the personthat card 610 was issued to will be recorded and stored in archive 541(FIG. 10). Also, each time card 610 is placed in slot 507 of receptacle500 (FIG. 2), that fact will be recorded in archive 541. Number 611and/or name 615 may be represented by a two dimensional bar code 614.Card 610 also has a date of issue 612 and expiration date 613.Information represented on card 600 may be read by scanner 511 (FIG. 2).

[0061] The above specification describes a new and improved system thatallows the recipient of mail to know the identity of the mailer beforethe recipient opens the mail. It is realized that the above descriptionmay indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which theprinciples of this invention may be used without departing from thespirit. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An incoming mail monitoring system, said systemcomprises: a data base that stores unique information affixed to mail; aplurality of recipient addressee units that reads and stores the uniqueinformation contained on the mail after the mail has been delivered tothe recipient; and a data center that receives information stored by thedata base and the recipient's units to identify the mailer to therecipient and assess the possibility of the presence of life-harmingmaterial in the mail.
 2. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the database stores unique information contained in a postal indicia.
 3. Thesystem claimed in claim 2, further including a mailer's unit thatcommunicates with the data base and stores in the data base the time anddate that the postal indicia was affixed to the mail.
 4. The systemclaimed in claim 2, wherein the data center correlates the recipientaddress of the mail with unique information contained in the postalindicia.
 5. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the data base storesa unique code contained in a stamp.
 6. The system claimed in claim 1,wherein the data base stores a unique code contained in a label.
 7. Thesystem claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient units include a scannerthat reads postal indicia that is affixed to mail.
 8. The system claimedin claim 7, wherein the scanner captures and interprets the informationcontained in the postal indicia.
 9. The system claimed in claim 1,wherein the recipient units include a scanner that reads a unique codethat is contained in a stamp that is affixed to mail.
 10. The systemclaimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient units include a scanner thatreads a unique code that is contained in a label that is affixed tomail.
 11. The system claimed in claim 1, further including: a pluralityof receptacles that reads, stores and communicates to the data centerunique information appearing on mail.
 12. The system claimed in claim11, wherein the unique information appearing on mail is stored in thedata base.
 13. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the scanner islocated in a control chamber.
 14. The system claimed in claim 12,wherein the control chamber has a locked door for isolating suspectmail.
 15. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the receptacle furthercomprises: an inner chamber that receives mail from the control chamberthat is not suspected of having life harming material.
 16. The systemclaimed in claim 12, wherein the inner chamber has a locked door inwhich when open mail may be removed from the inner chamber.
 17. Thesystem claimed in claim 12, further including a slot for depositing mailinto the control chamber.
 18. The system claimed in claim 8, furtherincluding: means for closing the slot when the mail in the controlchamber is suspected of containing life harming substances.
 19. Thesystem claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient's units comprise:electronic postage units.
 20. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein therecipient's units comprise personal computer meters.